Where’s the best place to watch a movie?

… And other fun tidbits I found during spring cleaning

That means it’s time for another round of rigorous spring cleaning, courtesy of my ever-growing collection of cool links and tasty pop-culture tidbits.

We begin today with an assorted grab bag.

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Film critic Linda Holmes still believes that the best place to see a movie is in a movie theater.

“The ritual of settling into a seat, maybe putting a drink in the armrest, and not knowing what’s going to happen has not lost its charm for me,” she writes in this essay. “It is only at a movie in a theater that I have quite the sort of experience I have when the first few seconds of anything — even something I’ve already seen — appear.”

As someone who has willingly sat through some of the best and worst movies, I’m inclined to agree with her. I don’t always have the time or the money to see the latest blockbuster or critically acclaimed drama in theaters, but when I do , I usually find the experience is fuller than if I had watched the same movie sitting on my couch.

Part of the reason is audience participation.

There’s nothing quite like howling in unison at a good joke or gasping collectively at a sudden shock. You feel the emotion of the crowd roll over you like a wave.

Speaking as someone who recently had ice chucked at them for chuckling during the silly, sloppy horror flick“Season of the Witch”, there are times for laughter and funny comments, and times when you should just shut the hell up.

They’re quick, easy and enjoyable to write, a breeze to post. Plus, they nearly always rouse the ire of rabid fans, inspiring yet another awesome list.

Here are a few film-related lists for your reading pleasure:

“Black Swan” comes out on DVD tomorrow, which means you’ll have another chance to watch Barbara Hershey’s terrifying performance as an overbearing stage mother. Here are seven scary moms and dads from the movies, courtesy of Moviefone blogger Sharon Knolle.

If you’ve always dreamed of seeking public office, you might want to check out this list of 13 famous film politicians, compiled by The Los Angeles Times. “Mr. Smith Goes to Washington” may be the film that opens your eyes.